The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-31
1NHospIrABLE LIBERIA.
A Discouraging Picture of Life on the
African Coast.


African Coast.
Says the Indianapolis NetCS:
DR.. Ralph w. Perry, whose recent return
from Liberia has been noted, is still
bleached, as the result of hiS long wrestle
with Africa or coast fever, but he is gradu-
ally recovering his former vigor, and he
proposes TO begin the practice of medicine
in this city. He had rich and varied ex-
perience ON the African coast and not even
the ambition to save a heather from end
less torment viii win him back. He went
out in the employ of the Episcopal Mission
Board, to be in charge of the hospital,
and of the two who accompanied him
one died with coast fever within three
weeks after arrival, while the other was
driven insane from a similar cause. Mon
rovia is the capital of Liberia, being named
in honor of President Monroe, of this coun-
try and it is town of about j, 900 people, of
which number eleven are white and the
remainder of mixed blood, but largely
native. The business of the town is in the
hands of less than hundred persons, and
the remainder of its poplation lives of
them. Common labor is poorly remunerated.
There is no plantation work, save in the cot
fee-piclIing season, and the negroes who were
expected from the South some year ago
lead shiftleSe and forlorn lives, not much
improved upon the native black. There is
no money, and in payment of whatever
labor there is to do the laborer is compelled
to take out the price in whatever is offered
him. Flour, costing 81 a barrel in New
York, retails at $15 per barrel;
muslin % cents per yard; milk the
same price per pint, and small pintS at that;
and everything else i'll proportion. The
steamship interests are controlled by Bel
gium and German firms, and the agents
that are sent to Liberia to look after
their commercial affairs are under
contract to remain three years; but
few last that long. No white
man escapes an attack of African fever. 1t
seized Perry after he had been there but
short time, but thanks to a sturdy constitu-
ton he was able to fight off the first attack,
and second and third but it kept return
ing every month or two, until it finally wore
him out. Its symptoms are very much like
the ordinary yellow fever of the South, but,
unlike the yellow fever, the fact that man
has it once is no guarantee that he is not
liable to continued attacks of it. The mis-
sion at Monrovia is in charge of the Rev.
Mr. Ferguson, who is not only missionary
but also the Bishop, and he has some
twenty assistants, who are stationed
at Monrovia and other points. The mission
was established in 1882, and il is maintained
at about yearly cost of $4,000, and DR..
Perry doubts if the conversions to date ex-
ceed 900. 1t Is not a pleasant country in
which to live, even for native, and white
man migrating to this inhospitable shore,
although the doctor didn't say that in as
many words, might as well leave all hope
behind. Bishop Ferguson is a colored man,
and this accounts for his tenacity of life.
There are two seasons of the
year, dry and wet, but Perry
failed to note much difference be-
tween the wet and dry, unless it was that in
the wet season it rained day and night, while
in the dry it only rained at night. The wet
season is the healthiest, because it is the
ranges from co. to 12Oo. Only once during
his stay of ten months, however, did it drop
TO co., and then it felt cold enough to don
flannels and overcoat. The trip going and
coming from New York is made by sailing
vessels and usually occupies forty-five days
each way.